diff --git a/spine-c/src/spine/Skeleton.c b/spine-c/src/spine/Skeleton.c
index 45f7ba5f0..105b6c1f6 100644
--- a/spine-c/src/spine/Skeleton.c
+++ b/spine-c/src/spine/Skeleton.c
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ spSkeleton* spSkeleton_create (spSkeletonData* data) {
 		if (parent)
 			parent->children[parent->childrenCount++] = bone;
 	}
-	CONST_CAST(spBone*, self->root) = self->bones[0];
+	CONST_CAST(spBone*, self->root) = (self->bonesCount > 0 ? self->bones[0] : NULL);
 
 	self->slotsCount = data->slotsCount;
 	self->slots = MALLOC(spSlot*, self->slotsCount);